Fan



D. RODGERS Sept. 24, 1929.

FAN

Filed June 19 1924 D Rop GERS,

INVENTOR. zsfY MWoRNEX Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE rmt Application iiled June 19,

The present invention relates to rotary fans of the Ventilating type, and has more particularly to do with the matter of increasing the eld covered by the air-discharged therefrom, said object being accomplished without the usual alternate or rotary movement of the motor which actuates the fan; and moreover anearly universal field of air movement isfcovered by what is termed a single blade plan, as will be more fully explained hereinafter in this specificatmn.

The blades of the present type of fan are curved in direction, the front and rear extremities of said blades being substantially in parallel positions, with an intermedlate length of blade which forms a continuous curve therebetween, as will be explained as the description proceeds.

In thepusual ceiling fan as found in theaters, and other public places, the motor is usually a spherical body, which revolves continuously, making a complete revolutlon labout its own axis.

ln the case of the present invention the motor can remain stationary, and the blades of the fan are so constructed that a field of air movement isl made in many directions, starting from the fan center as a point of initial agitation.

These and other features will unfold themselves as the description proceeds in connection with the drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ventilating fan, showing my invention thereon.

Fig, 2 is a. front elevation of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear view of a portlon o f a fan blade, showing a method of relnforcing same. n

Figure 4 is an edge view of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section through the fan blades on lines 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken centrally through the axis of the fan as shown 1n Figure 2.-

Figure 7 is a front View of Figure 6 1llustrating the construction of the blades of the fan, and the axis on which they are mounted.

In' the drawings is shown an ordinary Cil 1924. seriai No. 720,907.

Ventilating fan, which has the usual motor 2, stem 3, base 4 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. The motor 2, has preferably an elongated stem 5, provided with a flattened key-way 6, and the fan 7 composed of the blades 8, 9 is mounted on said stem 5 as shown in Figure 6. rlhe fan blades 8, 9 are made as illustrated in the Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, each blade starting at the central axis at 10, and extending outward, as seen in Figure 2 in approximately a radial direction, while at the same time said blades are curved inwardly towards the motor 2, as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. From these two igures it is evident that the end l1-of blade 8 lies a plane which is perpendicular to the axis passing through the stem 5 in a horizontal direction; while the oppositeor free end of the blade 8, to wit: 12 is in a similar position with respect to the axis 10. Intermediate between the two ends 11, and 12, lies a portion of the fan blade 13 which forms a continuous curve between said fan ends.

In addition to the curve just described the fan blade ismade Vwith a flaring curve as illqstrated in cross-section by the Figure 5 of the drawing, the edge 14 of Figure 5' representing .the flared edge of the blade, as shown by the corresponding numbers in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. What has been said with reference to blade 8 in regard to the curved construction' of same between the ends y 11 and 12, and also with reference to the'lare 14 of same applies equally to all the four blades of the fan 7, as they are all constructed substantially alike. Attention is called to the cross-sectional construction of the blades 8, 9 etc. in that they are substantially straight from points 15 to 16, or about one half the width of the fan blade, while from 16 to 177 the bent portion of the blade is dared or made so as .to throw the air in circulation, as the fan blade advances in its revolution about the central axis 10. lt is further seen that the 95 cross-sectional construction of the blade is maintained throughout its length from point 11 to 12 in each of the fan blades, as illustrated by the cross-sections 5-5`in Figure `2 of the drawings. The blade 8 has been described las 100 extending only from the central aXis at to the end 12 of same but it is seen from Figures 2, 6 and 7 that theblade 8 can be made integral with the blade 18, and the blade 9 made integral with the blade 19, one set of blades passing over the other as is seen in Figure 6 of the drawings. On the face of the blades just described and holding them in position is a flanged hub 20, which has an inwardly eX- tending stem 21 which lits into the tubular fitting 22, preferably forming a driven fit into same. Between the inner set of fan blades 9 and 19 andthe outer end of the fitting 22 is a collar 23 which forms an abutment against which the fan blades engage, and which abutment together with the flange 24 of hub 20 holds the fan blades in position. As a feature of the blades at this central intersection, the blades 8 and 9 are kept in proper relative position in a rotary direction with respect to blades 9 and 19 by means of the outstanding or flanged portions 25, 26 etc., each fan blade in turn having one of its flat edges as at 27 in engagement with a flaring portion 26 as shown in Figure 7 clearly. However the flanged hub 2O and the collar 23 are held in such tight engagement with the fan blades that the feature just described is often not necessary to prevent the rotation of the blades with reference to each other. It is seen that the fan can be instantly adjusted on an ordinary table fan, by means of the tubular fitting 22, which has to be long enough, as seen from Figure l, to permit the returned portions 12 of the blades of the fan to pass the stem 3 of the fan. The fitting 22 is secured against rot-ation onv the stem 5 of the motor, by means of the lock bolt 28, which engages the flattened key-way 6 as is readily understood. The fan blades being made very thin, can be reinforced by means of a flat bar 29, which can extend throughout the length of each blade, preferably on the inner side 30 if desired, and said bars'29 can be riveted or welded to the blades. In the Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings I have illustrated said barsy 29, as being riveted to the fan blade 8. It is seen that as the blades are continuously curved throughout `their length, and since .they have to be made comparatively thin, and further as they travel at a high speed when in operation, that such reinforcing member 29 becomes necessary to insure their stiffness, and prevent distortion.

r1`he operation of the fan is as follows. The blades, 8, 9, 18, 19 on account of their peculiar shape and construction, send out air currents (if we disregard the circumferential component of motion imparted to the air) first let us say in lines approximatelyv parallelwith the central axis 10, and in direction of the arrow 31 from points 11 to 32 of the fan blade 18, see Figure 1. From points 32 to 33 lines of air currents take the substantial direction of arrow 34; while from 33 to 35 the lines of air force7 take the direction of arrow 36. From point 35 to 12 however it is evident from the Figure 1, and from observation of the blade 9 thereon, that air currents are sent out in line with the central axis 10, and in line with the arrow 37. This description it Will be understood is approximate only with reference to the direction of the lines of airmovement, as it will be readily appreciated that the said directions of the lines of air gradually change in directionv as we proceed from point 11 to point 12 along the fan blade. What has been said with reference to the lines of the air currents along one blade, it is seen will apply also when the fan is in motion, and a delivery of air in many directions will be continually thrown out by the fan blades. It is evident then from what has just been said that this present fan .supplants the practical function of the ordinary revoluble Inotor ceiling fan commonly used in theatres, and elsewhere, with the additional advantage that the motor itself which drives the fan blades, remains stationary. Also it is evident that for ordinary table use the present invention has many advantages over the reversible or arcial movement table Ventilating fan, since the stream is constant in all directions, and the constant reversion of direction of the axis of the motor, and the movement of the motor itself is obviated entirely. Moreover since the air is sent out in many directions, the change of air in a living room is much more complete than when the usual arcial movement fan is used. As a further observation, it is evident that when a fan of the kind now presented is used, and which I call for convenience a returned blade fan that the steady stream of air received from it by a person sitting directly in front of the fan is much more acceptable on a hot day, than the intermittent breath of air which proceeds from the common arcial movement fan. The advantage of having a stationarymotor is seen to be of importance in hospitals, theaters, churches etc. Where absolute quiet is very desirable, as the reversal of the motor and fan direction every few seconds, and rthe movement of the motor in the revoluble motor type of fan both contribute to produce an unacceptable noise in places such as those just described. j

From the above it is seen that I have provided a very desirable type of fan forthe purposes described, and which is very efficient in service as has been demonstrated.

I claim:

1. In a fan, a returned fan blade, having a `front and a rear end, each having a portion of its cross-sectional air-actuating surface lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, and an adjoining outwardly flared portion of said air actuating surface extending in the direction of motion of theactuated air field, and lying in a. plane forming an angle with the first named surface of the blade.

2. In a fan, a fan blade returned upon itself with the returned ends lying in planes parallel with the direction of rotation, and having a flatand an outwardly flaring crosssection throughout the length of the blade, an air actuating surface on each of the returned ends lying in planes perpendicular to the aXis of'rotation, an adjoining air actuating outwardly flaring surface on each blade end lying in a plane forming an angle with the direction of rotation, and an intermediate curved blade portion joining the two ends of the blade.

3. In a fan, a plurality of fan blades, each having a portion of the air-actuating face of the blade lying in a plane parallel with the direction of rotation, and a second portion of the air-actuating'outwardly flared face of the blade lying in an angular relation to the first described blade face, each of said blades having a gradually turned vane which is returned upon itself, with its ends lying in planes parblade surface.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

DOMINICK RODGERS. 

